LIVERMORE — Paul Hommert, a former manager at Sandia/California National Laboratories, is returning to take over as leader of the Livermore facility.

On Aug. 25, Hommert will replace retiring vice president Miriam Mim John as both vice president of Sandia/California and as leader of its Homeland Security and Defense Strategic Management Unit.

Im very excited for the opportunity to return to Sandia, said Hommert, 56.

I think Ive had the opportunity in my Sandia career and in the United Kingdom and Los Alamos to develop a pretty broad background within the nuclear weapons program and outside the nuclear weapons program.

In announcing Hommerts appointment, Sandia National Laboratories Director Tom Hunter said Thursday that, Paul brings a wealth of experience from his time at Sandia and especially from his time at the Atomic Weapons Establishment and Los Alamos.

He is acknowledged across the (National Nuclear Security Administration) community as one whose leadership provides competence, commitment and integrity to any position.

To that, Hommert added Thursday: I am very familiar with the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory program and I can bring some perspective to how Sandia and Livermore need to work together going forward, particularly during this dynamic period in the weapons program.

Since 2003, Hommert has been the leader of the applied physics division at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.

He oversees 350 scientists, engineers, and support personnel working on nuclear weapon design and assessment, weapon performance and weapons science.

Hommert began at Sandia in 1976 and held different positions for the lab and Lockheed Martin Corp., which operates Sandia.

As a Sandia director, he was the head of the labs Engineering Sciences organization.

He moved to the United Kingdom in 2000 as director of research and applied science at the Atomic Weapons Establishment for Lockheed Martin.

Hommert said he will have to reacquaint himself with Sandias current direction when he takes over later this month.

We are facing a dynamic external environment, Hommert said.

“‘It is less likely a dramatic change and more likely to mature the labs position to deal with the external changes going on around us.